As to an additional pound not making a difference on a backpack hunt, I've absolutely found it does. Course the difference between my two 308's is 1lb 5oz's.

A rifle isn't carried on one's pack like all the other gear is. It's a "dynamic" load, ie., it gets slung, carried in the hand(s), cradled, etc... 6.5lb's of rifle is not experienced the same way 6.5lbs nestled in a pack is.

And besides, ounces make pounds, and pounds make misery. Take care of the ounces, the pounds take care of themselves.

This years pack out... a pound doesn't matter. Like hell it doesn't grin :

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“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery